The Official Blog of Tiger Home Services

Category Archives: Power Outage

Introducing Tiger Home Awareness Solutions

Did I forget to shut the garage door? Was my package delivered? Is my home secure? Homeownership comes with all kinds of questions, concerns and responsibilities. Wouldn’t it be nice if things were a little easier? Be aware with a smart home from Tiger Home Awareness.

Tiger Home Awareness and Automation Solutions will take away many of the worries that come with owning your home. Imagine how much easier it would be to control lights and lock doors with an app on your phone? Or the peace of mind that would accompany the ability to keep an eye on children, elderly relatives or pets when you are not home. How much more secure would your home be if you could monitor and even interact with people who visit your home with a two-way camera?

Be In Control Anywhere, Anytime

First, you will have control of your home’s automation through an app that you can easily install on your Smartphone.

Next, conveniently located cameras and sensors will allow you to monitor suspicious activity on your property and the coming and goings of visitors.

Furthermore, you can customize alerts that are sent to your phone, which makes it easier to stay up to date on the happenings in your home.

And, easily keep an eye on children or elderly relatives while you are away from home.

This past week many of us found ourselves without power due to severe thunderstorms that have been hitting the area. Those of us who grew up in the Midwest have come to expect wild weather that can leave us without power for hours or even days. Strong winds and violent storms during the spring and summer months, blizzards in the winter months, and not to mention the extreme hot and cold temperatures that can cause issues and lead to power outages. Fortunately, you do not have to be at the mercy of Mother Nature any longer. Investing in a standby generator can keep the lights on when the weather starts to act up.

Reasons to Consider a Standby Generator:

1. When the Power Goes Out, the Generator Kicks On:

Standby generators connect right into your electrical system and are constantly monitoring for power outages. So when the power goes out, your standby generator will kick on. It’s that simple!

2. Prevent a Flooded Basement:

Sump pumps are vital in the battle against the nightmare that is a flooded basement. Unfortunately, most sump pumps require electricity in order to operate and when the power stops flowing, your sump pump stops working. This leaves your basement vulnerable, especially during stormy weather.

3. Save Money By Saving Your Groceries:

A standby generator can keep your major appliances running when severe weather comes raging through. This means that your refrigerator will keep your food cold and fresh. Your AC and/or furnace will keep your family comfortable and your other vital electronics will stay with you until the power comes back on.

Power outages tend to mean that you’re left sitting in the dark without a TV, home phone or any other way to communicate with the outside world, or entertain yourself or your kids. Sure, you may have your Smartphone, but what happens when the battery dies and you can’t charge it? The correctly sized standby generator can help prevent you from becoming disconnected during extreme weather.

5. Stay Calmer During Rocky Weather:

Stormy weather can be scary enough all on its own for small children, pets or even some adults. The situation can become outright terrifying if the lights suddenly go out. Keep the whole family a little calmer during rough weather, by ensuring the lights stay on!

Portable Generators Vs. Standby Generators:

A typical portable generator usually runs on gasoline and has to be manually setup each time the power goes out. A standby generator connects right into your homes electrical system and will turn itself on automatically if the power goes out. Portable generators are extremely loud; whereas standby generators are much quieter.

Plus, standby generators come in a variety of sizes, so you can find one that fits your needs. You can choose a smaller unit and only power your most important appliances and circuits or you can purchase a unit large enough to power your whole home.

If you have any plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical needs, simply call us at:

Some of us woke up without power in the middle of this random midweek snowstorm. Since we are still in the middle of a snowstorm warning, who knows how long the power may remain out. And not to mention, in the Midwest, we’re never really sure when winter will truly be done with us. We could experience a few more snowstorms, which means power outages are always a concern. Don’t panic, losing power during a snowstorm is a little scary and super inconvenient, but there are a few things you can do to ride out the storm and wait for the power to come back on.

1. Dressing warm and adding layers will help you stay warm until the heat comes back on.

2. If you’re worried about your pipes freezing, turn on your faucets just enough to allow water to slowly drip out of the tap.

3. Try not to open your refrigerator or freezer if at all possible. The food inside can last longer if you leave to doors shut.

4. In order to avoid a power surge when the power does come back on, turn off/unplug your desktop computers, televisions, lights (you may want to leave one on, so you know when the power is back on) and any other electronic devices that aren’t necessary.

5. If your home has a fireplace or a wood stove, go ahead and use it for warmth. (Do Not Use any outdoor heating devices like grills, kerosene heaters or BBQs inside your home. These devices pose a major carbon monoxide risk when used indoors).

6. If you have neighbors who are elderly or have medical conditions, check on them. Especially, if these neighbors use medical equipment that requires electricity. Ensure they are dressed warmly and call 911 if they are in need of medical assistance.

7. If you happen to own a portable generator, do not turn it on if you haven’t had it installed or inspected by a certified electrician. Generators are extremely dangerous when not properly installed and maintained. Better safe than sorry!

8. You can use your smartphone to check on the status of the power outage, by logging onto your service providers website for the latest updates. Minor power outages during a winter snowstorm can be manageable. However, if the power will be out for an extended period, you’ll want to stay up to date on the status of the power outage.

Be safe, stay warm and dream of the warm summer days ahead!

If you have any plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical needs, simply call us at: